Thoughts from Morihiko

“Two seasons ago we had our first 'Oktoberfest' program, complete with a pre-concert 'Biergarten' package. This year we’re revisiting this fun concept and combining it with the annual 'Beethoven & Blue Jeans' concert.

Musically it’s going to be great fun. Opening with Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, we move into Friedrich Gulda’s Cello Concerto featuring the SC Phil’s own Dusan Vukajlovic. Gulda is primarily remembered as an iconoclastic and sartorially inclined Austrian pianist noted for his Mozart and Beethoven interpretations and jazz improvisations. In this uproarious concerto, Gulda mixes everything from rock & roll (the cello even imitates the electric guitar during the cadenza), polkas (we must have them for 'Oktoberfest'), and Mozartian elegance.

Brad Edwards, our principal trombonist and one of the wittiest guys in the orchestra, takes center stage in perhaps the only standard trombone concerto from the Romantic era, Ferdinand David’s. The evening comes to a triumphant close with Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 4.”

Tickets from Capitol Tickets

Prices are $47, $39, $29, $21 or $17. Student and military discounts available.

Featuring the Oktoberfest Biergarten!

A roaring success in 2009, our festive Biergarten is back by popular demand. For $15 ($12 for SCP subscribers!), enjoy knockwurst with sauerkraut and mustard on a hoagie roll, German potato salad and one beer (with more on sale) in the Koger Center “festhaus” from 6 p.m. Reserve today through SCP Audience Services: 803.254.PHIL (7445).

Music for a Cause

In 2011/2012 the SCP will once again partner with seven local charities to raise money and awareness of their causes. Each charity is featured at a Masterworks concert. This concert's partner charity is:

Family Shelter

As advocates for keeping families together, the FamilyShelter provides emergency shelter to homeless families with children, whilecoordinating services to alleviate the conditions that contributed to theirindividual circumstances.

The Family Shelter is a private, non-profit agency locatedin Columbia. Established in 1979, Family Shelter's central mission is toprovide temporary emergency housing and supportive services to homelessfamilies. Family Shelter is the only shelter in the Midlands area exclusivelyfor families.

Although Family Shelter is one of the lesser-known agenciesin Columbia, it has quietly been one of the most effective. Shelter programs havea three-fold purpose to:

Provide a secure, structured environment where families can regain a sense of stability and perspective.

Respond to identified client needs with a variety of supportive services.

Promote healthy, stable, families who are connected to a network of community supporters and opportunities.